Wander Further

Work It Out With Chet Atkins

2012-01-27T09:29:00.002-05:00

I have a lot of vinyl. A LOT. Not even kidding. Easily 1000 albums. Easy. I have so many it's actually difficult finding spots to keep them all. Some are in storage. Some are in a cabinet. Some are in our closets. Some are under our sofa. They're everywhere. And I have pretty near every type of music on vinyl as well. Classics. Classical. Jazz. Disco. Metal. Hell, I even have this.

I have everything from Autechre and La Funk Mob to Nancy Sinatra with Lee Hazlewood. Did NOT know I had this one though. Maybe I should exercise to it later?

Unicorn Fart Machines

2012-01-26T14:40:00.000-05:00

Kicked ass at trivia, number one last night, yeah!

I'm afraid I'm turning into a trivia geek and getting super competitive.

I suppose it will prepare me for my rapidly approaching old-age; I will be ready to rule the retirement home when that day rolls around.

Montreal

2012-01-25T11:33:00.002-05:00

Trip is booked!! I've been wanting to stay at this hotel for about 2 years now. March 2-4 it happens! Booked the best room too. Exciting! And going by train which is my absolute favourite way to travel.

This is pretty much what our room should look like. It might be hard to leave the room to do anything!

Love, love, love it!! Also multi-jet shower, 2 person therapeutic bath...I'm all about the good bath tubs!

2012-01-25T10:16:00.001-05:00

Add this to my bizarre dreams list, dreamt last night I was friends with a gay porn star with HIV. What could that possibly mean?

Shoes

2012-01-24T12:49:00.000-05:00

OH, I like these! I feel so deceived though, these were in an email I received from one of those discount shopping sites but when I went to look they seemed to have every shoe in the world except these! Bastards.

It's true. I have 2 sort of problem addictions, footwear and bags.

2012-01-24T09:42:00.000-05:00

I bought one of those groupon type things for hair colour service. So now I will sit on it for a bit and ponder the going back to dark thing. Geez, this shouldn't be such a big decision should it, and yet I've been waffling on it for months now. I do think it's probably going to happen in the next month or so. The blonde is just so....boring on me. Holy crap dudes, I don't have anything I feel like sharing with you today.

Birthday Greetings

2012-01-23T11:55:00.001-05:00

So I received a free Birthday Chronicle from A Gift Anytime for review. Seemed like a cute enough idea and my mom's birthday is coming up so I set it up to reflect her information. This is what I received in PDF form:

I have to confess I was a little disappointed. Now maybe because I do design work all day I'm just picky. But the lack of realism in this document means I won't be giving it to my mother. In fact, I know if I wanted to do this, I could create something that actually looked like the front page of a newspaper which in my opinion, this doesn't, at all. The font isn't even remotely right! I also just don't like the page set-up or the use of clip art. I know you can find royalty free photographs that would make this so much more realistic.

Now, these only cost $2.00 if you receive them emailed to you, up to $20.00 in a frame. So, cheap enough if you're OK with the lack of realism. For me, they just don't quite cut it. And since I can google all sorts of 1947 information myself, I could make one of these that looked genuine.

Anyway, if you do want one of these yourself, they do a free giveaway once a month. You can visit their blog at Because I Tried It or check them out here:

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Bit's N Bites

2012-01-23T10:40:00.000-05:00

OOF hit a big ole creative wall today, maybe it's the weather, it's raining and grey and much more like B.C. here today than Ontario. It's just sort of depressing dark, you know, that dingy sort of daylight that never seems to really get going? If I were at home I suppose I'd find it sort of comforting, maybe.

I wear earplugs every night because somebody snores, at least that was the original reason why but maybe ALL sounds bother me because since I've been doing that I've been sleeping MUCH better.

I rearranged the living room AGAIN, I like it now, going to buy a new chair too, hey did I mention I got a credit card limit increase? This is both good and bad news. Nah, it's all good news, I'm a responsible and conscientious person now where my finances are concerned.

Also with the new room arrangement we now receive 15 digital channels absolutely free in crystal clear stereophonic sound or something like that. This is more than we need as TV is not supposed to be something we spend too much time on.

I made vegan coconut cupcakes on the weekend, took me two tries but they actually came out pretty nicely. I totally forgot to take a photo of them even though they looked nice because I am getting old and forgetful and also lazy.

YES!

2012-01-20T15:36:00.000-05:00

so much going on, did some illustrations for a friend's book, will be published in about a month . Can't wait to show you some of it, but I can't yet. Feeling super motivated, I guess accomplishing things helps motivate you into accomplishing further things, right?

Also looking forward to the photography show as you know, and feel inspired to do some new photo series and try to exhibit in a few more shows. It's only January and I feel so much further along than I did through all of last year!!

I need a new self-portrait for the book jacket!

Poster Child

2012-01-19T14:47:00.000-05:00

so I've started putting together a couple of posters for the photography show. Here are a couple of little previews (don't want to show them in full until they are completely done and ready to go). I think they're coming along pretty well.

I've been thinking that maybe for this I should finish up those projects I talked about months ago; using the old window frames as photo frames. I have 'em but haven't put anything together yet, could be a good way to stand out and be a little more creative. My cards haven't arrived yet but should be here any day now!

2012-01-19T09:03:00.000-05:00

could it be that all creativity comes from the same well of fury? That where you channel it is what's important but that it's the same fury that makes one person paint a masterpiece and another kill?

I find it very difficult to create when I am content and when I try I don't get nearly that same spent satisfaction as when something is born out of frenzy and maniacal necessity. Complacency kills or something like that.

I'm pretty sure that some people do their best work when everything is flowing along smoothly. You'd think I'd envy that, but I'm not too sure that I do.

We sucked at trivia last night. 5th place.

Moo Cards

2012-01-17T12:13:00.001-05:00

{EAV:f27a747f279586ac}

I've ordered some Moo Mini Cards to use at the art show in May. Each card has a detail from one of my images (each card different) and then some contact info on the reverse side. They look like this:

and that's just a small sampling!

I paid only $6.00 for 100 of them. Pretty awesome in my opinion! I have a deal for ya, if you want to get some for yourself, same deal, then visit them HERE!

100 cards ALL different, for $6.00. I'm super glad I got these; one less thing to stress over for the show!!

Next time, might get wooden cards. Or maybe 3-D?

Shopping Recap

2012-01-17T10:31:00.000-05:00

OK, let's do a little shopping recap, sure why not. So yeah, bought this sweater. Pretty typical of me I guess.

Also this top. I really need some cords in that colour. They were of course, sold out. And that belt!!

And then this blouse. I've got summer on my mind.

That's it for now. No more spending this month. Still waiting for my lace doilies to come so I can make that lamp too, hurry up already!!

Trying to decide what photos to put in the show in May. There's no theme so it's wide open. I think I'll probably choose some of my more recent ones, maybe the ones I've made look like paintings. Or maybe I'll go out and take some new shots, man, this is hard!!

It's a New Car!!

2012-01-16T13:30:00.000-05:00

Look at what my baby is getting me!

a new car, a Toyota Camry to be exact!! This is awesome, my car is rusted and getting a bit rattly (although it's served me very well).

Brand new snow tires too! YAY!

Camper Dreams

2012-01-16T09:53:00.000-05:00

so I may have a new project soon, looks like we will be buying a trailer in the near future, a friend of D's wants to get rid of his plus the truck to tow it, exciting!! As you probably know, this has been one of my goals, to have a camper.

Full on retro for sure as far as decor ideas. A camper with kitchen, bathroom and sleeping area, heaven!!

I'll post photos when this happens! Maybe 2012 becomes the year of things really moving forward!!

2012-01-15T11:46:00.001-05:00

food poisoning, had it. Still recovering. As you can imagine, I don't much feel like blogging or anything else. Not sure I've ever felt so bad before. This is day 4 of recovery, feel much better.

Also, I'm a vegetarian now. Food poisoning will do that to you.

Photo Exhibit

2012-01-11T15:31:00.003-05:00

Finally, going to be exhibiting some of my photography on May 11, all woman show during an event called Art Crawl here in town. It's about time I did something with my work beyond sticking it up here!

Will share all the details as they become fleshed out!

Game Show Time

2012-01-11T09:14:00.000-05:00

From back in the days before it was acceptable to be shitty to each other (which by the way folks is NOT cute or endearing or even tolerable quite frankly). I hate bickering, bitchy couples who speak nasty to each other all the time. And I see them everywhere.

2012-01-10T09:04:00.001-05:00

It's a shame really, that as a society we reward bad behaviour, ugly behaviour.
It's terrible that for some reason we all love the train wreck, will flock to see, to gawk, to throw our two cents in from the sidelines, poke with the stick then jump back to watch the monkey rage.
We encourage it, people's problems, their diseases, emotional and otherwise. We want people to act like selfish self-important jerks, so we can try to tear them down and watch them struggle to stay important, to defend themselves, to be relevant, to be something.
And I don't know if it's always been this way.
I suppose it has, are the people on reality TV really much different than say, the bearded lady or the elephant man?
Well yeah, when I think about it, they are, I mean reality TV folk have a choice to not be an idiot, so I take it back, being an idiot isn't a disease,
but it is an epidemic.

yeah

2012-01-09T11:13:00.002-05:00

A tidbit for today

2012-01-09T10:20:00.000-05:00

It is quite possible, quite likely certain that being a person with strong opinions is irritating to others.

I on the other hand find people who compromise their strong opinions for the sake of keeping the peace even more irritating. I'm thinking of the increasing acceptance of rudeness in others.

I guess basically what I'm saying is, if you are talking to me and also texting on your cell phone in that obnoxious, mostly distracted way, you my friend, are a shit head of the highest order.

Weekend Update

2012-01-09T09:52:00.000-05:00

How'd your weekend go?

Ours was ok, you know, laid back kind of thing. I spent it in my usual state of disarray.

But I'm cool with that.

Hung out at the Botanical Gardens a bit. Plotted out some future photo possibilities. Bought this ridiculous tunic/dress on ebay.

blah blah blah boring blah blah. I'll come back later with something of value to say.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!

2012-01-06T15:50:00.002-05:00

Does this hair look any longer yet? I've never been so impatient about hair growth as I have been in the past month.

Will NOT be chopping so much off at once ever again. Also, is this Instagram effect called Jaundice? ALSO also, what the hell with the one eye squint? *shrug*.

One Old Lady's Table Topper is Another Turning Into An Old Lady's Light Fixture

2012-01-06T10:32:00.001-05:00

I love when I find a new project that that makes me say "I have to make that!"

So yeah, I'm going to be making this:

Can't explain it, but just love it, and so, SO easy. I've already ordered 12 doilies to use, in a butterfly pattern. Want to do a floral one as well, just have to find the right material!

Dresses and Bows

2012-01-05T10:41:00.000-05:00

I never feel like I look quite the way I want to; it could have something to do with laziness or maybe I'm just bad at fashion. What I have noticed though is that if I look back at photos, I DO look the way I intended but at the time it never seems like it.

This is quite possibly one of the most vapid posts I've ever written (or should I say ever started to write. I'll put it out of its misery now.)

Un peu de français

2012-01-04T11:45:00.000-05:00

I'm not really one for resolutions. In fact, I don't really understand the point. I do sort of have one this year though.

J'ai décidé de parler plus de français en 2012. Je pense que ca va être dificile, mais c'ést aussi trés important. Je n'ai pas d'excuse; je suis née au Québec. C'ést une bonne résolution de nouvel an, n'ést pas?

So yeah, listening to french radio right now at work, also in the car, speaking french when I can and thinking in french to myself. Will watch some french TV as well. Fortunate to have some french friends to practice with too.

I genuinely regret letting my french go. On the plus side, I have an excellent (seriously excellent) french (Québécois) accent due to learning french originally in Quebec and being surrounded by it, and I seem to have very good recall of the french that is still buried in my brain.

Hey, I'll put up a sound file of me speaking french soon, that'll be fun right?

2012 in Pictures should be better than 2011

2012-01-03T16:34:00.001-05:00

Oh hi 2012, I hope you will inspire me to improve my photography, give me the balls to share my work more widely and provide me with many amazing location opportunities! I'm pretty sure we are going to have bigger and better adventures this year, hell, we're already working on it! Cheers!

First post of 2012

2012-01-02T10:14:00.000-05:00

Have to be honest, I legit forgot about this blog for the last few days, no that's not a bad thing, it's a good one!

Christmas and New Year's is a bit of come down isn't it, now things go back to usual for a while, at least I have the prospect of a weekend away to look forward to, want to start planning right this second, a train trip with D will be super fun, want to do it today!!

OK, think I'm going to head out and look at TV's now, getting an Xbox (you knew I was into the video games, yeah?) and don't have a TV anymore to play on. I'm all about the Kinect and also some GTA.

Later.

Backtracking

2011-12-30T12:46:00.000-05:00

I don't have pics of me with any high school boyfriends. Is that weird? Because I kind of think it's weird when people do have them. Still. 25 years later. But I could be wrong.

I assume I don't have any because any I did have hit the trash eons ago, like shortly after that person became irrelevant to my life. As most of them did if I'm honest.

I guess facebook will change that for everyone too.

This Is Pretty Much Why The Internet Exists

2011-12-29T10:04:00.001-05:00

Question

2011-12-29T09:08:00.002-05:00

How do you ever find success when you just can't bring yourself to play the game? To join the team? To follow the rules?

In Between Days

2011-12-29T08:57:00.000-05:00

back to work today, or at least going through the motions, not too many people here it seems. This week between Christmas and the new year always seems a bit of a write off in some ways.

How was your Christmas? It hasn't really seemed like Christmas to me for a long time now. I think it's something that is just much more magical when you're a kid I guess. Sure does hit the wallet though.

Hoping to make a short vacation to Montreal in the next month or so, want to go by train, my favourite mode of transportation. Montreal gets pretty damn cold in the winter, I haven't forgotten that although when I was a kid there I recall never wearing a hat or gloves and walking through knee deep snow in sneakers. Kids are idiots really.

Merry Christmas!!

2011-12-23T12:53:00.000-05:00

A little story AKA Soggy Feet

2011-12-22T16:49:00.001-05:00

sometimes we do have the most immature of email exchanges (names omitted for obvious reasons):

1. oh Christ, I nearly laughed out loud at that. That whole series of events couldn’t have been any more perfect. The dog pees and he pirouettes over and in front of the fish tank and dances gleefully in it like a half-wit Fred Astaire. All that was missing was an umbrella and lamp post!

And I do believe moments before doing so, he should have been aware of the pee that hadn’t been yet sopped up, it wasn’t a secret. His socks were rather effective sponges though. Man, I just stifled a snort again!

2. haha... He did have socks on. And he just kept dancing and dancing until he was soaked to the ankles. He thought we were laughing because he was a clown. But, we were really in hysterics because he was covering himself in pet piss. I almost couldn't breathe!

3. And his whole reaction when he had finally appeased the urine gods? I do believe he yelped out a hearty “frzlgoodfringe maxlbrafpop, armagooblescoop” in a half indian, half british accent, all while seeing 6 of us on the couch instead of 2 (when his eyes were open) and perhaps wondering why his feet were getting cold.

4. You'd think he'd learn.

5. It can't have been the first (or last ) time that's happened.

Hair or There

2011-12-22T14:20:00.002-05:00

I can't stop thinking that maybe the blonde and I should break up. I know I was all about it all summer long and I sure did go through hello trying to get it blonde in the first place. I can't decide.

Me dark:

Me light:

Yeah, I really think I DO prefer the dark. Hmm.... One thing is unanimous, It's WAAAAAY better long.

Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner!!

2011-12-22T12:17:00.000-05:00

OK! So the postcard giveway winner is the most recent commenter, Elyse Angel! Congrats! You'll be getting an email from me asking for your details and then I'll get them in the mail to you!

Thanks for playing, this was fun, Check back, I'll be doing some more giveaways soon!!

Contest Ends Today!!

2011-12-22T09:05:00.000-05:00

I will be selecting the winner of my vintage summer postcards at noon today. Drawing will be completely random as in old school, because well, I'm old school. I will write each name on a slip of paper and draw one from a hat.

Good Luck!!

Who Am I To Say What's Right?

2011-12-21T09:19:00.000-05:00

Remember when I used to be all indignant all the time about EVERY FUCKING THING, like I was some kind of arbiter of what you should or shouldn't do or like or eat and blah blah blah? No? It's all over there in my archives. God, who did I think I was? The news? A freaking newspaper? I guess it's a by-product of internet access, this "we are all the media" sort of attitude, social media monsters, one and all.

I suppose people find that more interesting or something but when I think back, UGH, it's kind of obnoxious behaviour, seriously, I clearly had an attitude of superiority, yeah? I guess it still pops up now and then, I mean having an opinion and wanting to be right is human nature unless you're the Dalai Lama or something and even then I have questions, nobody can be that mellow.

I guess it WAS kind of fun being all judgmental and shit. But I'm over it. Sort of.

2011-12-20T16:09:00.002-05:00

"Anything you can do, I can do lazier, I can do anything lazier than you."

"No you can't."

"Yes I..."

and then I stop singing and prove it.

Google Algorithm

2011-12-20T14:41:00.000-05:00

If you're a bit of a nerd like I am then you may already be aware of a lot of the things on this timeline. It's a pretty interesting step by step through the world of Google and SEO (which is of course pretty important to the blog world!) and how Google search and ranking is actually developed.

I've always preferred Google. (Except for that Google+, I still don't get that!)

Via: HigherVisibility

Tuesday

2011-12-20T09:21:00.000-05:00

Today is one of those days that I dreaded arriving but of course those sort of days always do arrive and so now I spend it hoping it passes quickly which it will, although it won't seem that way I'm sure. It's a work thing, it's always a work thing. I am really looking forward to a few days off next week, only four but four that I am super excited to have.

I have exactly 40 minutes left before I have to spend my whole day running around setting up emails etc. this will not be a good time and I am getting a cold or something more sinister perhaps, cannot stop sneezing. On the other hand, I could be dead, so things ain't all that bad are they.

Christmas Time

2011-12-16T09:42:00.001-05:00

I think it's perfectly OK to say Merry Christmas. At the same time, if someone wished me a Happy Hanukkah or a Joyful Kwanzaa, I wouldn't mind. So why be offended if you see Merry Christmas on a card or are wished a Merry Christmas and you aren't Christian? I don't get it.

I guess the point is, the country was founded on Christian beliefs and it's not really fair to knock that down at Christmastime to be politically correct. December 25 is CHRISTMAS not happy tree holiday. I'm pretty sure other countries don't tone down or disguise their major religious celebrations.

I don't shop for holiday gifts. I don't put up season's decorations. It's Christmas in my house. Hell, I'm not even religious, but I know and understand that that is what it is about. I live in a country that was founded on Christianity, I should be able to say "Merry Christmas" without getting a dirty look.

I think what probably upsets most people is the expectation that Christian holidays should be turned into non-specific occasions catering to everyone. That's not fair. Everyone is allowed to practice their own religions in this country. I'm assuming many people immigrated to Canada so that they could experience that sort of freedom. I know that if I went to certain countries and was a practising Christian, I would face not only derision but great danger and maybe even death. Even so, if I were in a country that was say, Muslim or Jewish or Hindu etc. I would never expect them to not prominently celebrate their religion or to tone it down for those of us who are not of the same faith.

Christmas is very nearly Santa day as it is now. I wonder if in another 200 years the actual truth of the holiday will genuinely be lost to the politically correct (which shouldn't even be a consideration in this case).

Hypnosis

2011-12-15T15:53:00.001-05:00

I've been given the opportunity to try out a hypnosis based weight loss program from http://bodymindweightloss.com/ . It's a three step program including the following segments:

Naturally Slim
Fitness Motivation
Eat Healthy

Have any of you guys ever used hypnosis for anything? I haven't and I've always thought that I wouldn't be very susceptible to suggestion anyway. But since I am struggling over the holidays to stick to my health goals and you see me talking about weight loss quite a LOT, I figure why not, I'll give it a shot, if it works than great!

I'll let you know if it seems to be working, I have high hopes. And in the meantime, seriously, has anyone used hypnosis out there successfully?

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Win a 4 pack of my Vintage Summer Post Cards!!

2011-12-15T11:33:00.002-05:00

Wanna win a set of my Vintage Summer Postcards? Of course you do!! Here's what you need to do.

1. Follow me on Twitter via my ANTI-twitter link to the right (I KNOW, I'm back on for a bit, giving it the proverbial second chance) and tweet what you miss most about summer in the winter to @gagecanada.
2. Post a comment below telling me what you miss most about summer in the winter.

That's it! Super easy!! I'll choose a winner in one week (Dec. 22, the first official day of Winter!) and you'll be receiving a 4-pack of my Vintage Summer Postcards.

Cool? Cool!

(sorry guys, this one is Canada/U.S.A. only)

TV or not TV?

2011-12-14T16:01:00.000-05:00

people seem to think it's weird when you tell them you don't eat processed lunch meat. I think it's a bit weird that people do.

I also think it's weird when someone doesn't like reading and watches too much TV. and has the excuse "I don't have time to read". Umm, yeah you do. Read in the bathtub, read on the toilet, read in bed. You can carry a book a lot of places you can't take a TV. If you can make time for The Kardashians why not make a little time for a book?

God, you non-readers don't know what you're missing.

2011-12-14T11:00:00.000-05:00

Meh re: Christmas

2011-12-14T10:41:00.001-05:00

This whole love everyone thing is pretty impossible. You need opposites to balance stuff out. How do you know you're happy if you're always happy? Or how do you know you're miserable if you're always miserable? I see a lot of people in that second category actually. It's almost like they look for reasons to be wretched because they are afraid to experience the full range.

Anyway, my point is, as lovely as the idea of loving everyone and "peace man" is, I don't want to go whole hog on that. Because sometimes, some people ARE horrible and ignorant and rude and nasty and you do get to dislike them or even hate them if you want to go there. And there's nothing wrong with that.

I don't know if I hate anyone right now, but there's quite a number of people who I think deserve to be on my "you suck balls" list now and forever and they are. I suppose I might be on someone's list myself. That's life, I'm cool with that.

I don't like people who:

brag all the time about themselves (holy boring much dude? And embarrassing too!)
are racist
get angry about little things (get some counselling and get over your childhood or whatever)
liars (HATE)
people who meddle (also HATE)

that's it for the negativity list today.

I like people who:

are loyal
talented but humble (so much nicer to be around and you get the feeling they actually appreciate their lives rather than expect to be treated like some kind of god)
truthful

man, I don't need to write this, pretty much everything that is the opposite of the first list, I like.

The End.

Flash Fiction

2011-12-13T13:21:00.000-05:00

This is a flash fiction entry for a website that weekly asks for 100 word or less entries using key words. Words that must be used in this one are: silent, spent, simple.

She turned, watching the silent flash of neon on the wall…he
was there. Naked, spent, sprawled beside
her, the attraction less apparent 4 hours further into the night.

It started with the romantic notion of a beautiful boy, kissing
in smoky stairwells, living in a one room flat with nothing but each
other. Falling asleep together, the
taste of whiskey, the smell of his skin, the window wide open, nothing on but
the moonlight.

Reality made her hate him.
Nobody can live on those things. With the harsh intrusion of that simple fact,
it was time to move on.

Let It Snow?

2011-12-13T10:43:00.000-05:00

I've decided to try to embrace winter this year. It's going to be hard. Or maybe not. This photo is last year's model. We don't have snow yet.

I'm perfectly OK with that.

I Got Two Chopsticks and a Miso Soup

2011-12-13T09:40:00.000-05:00

What day can't be made even better with the addition of good sushi? I rediscovered my love of miso AND learned that I actually DO like Uni.

I'm discouraged by the proliferation of the AYCE sushi trend in this town. It is definitely lowering the bar. You don't often receive something quite so simply lovely as these Tobiko with quail egg in the "stuff your gut" joint.

It is quite discouraging really, how we drag down our society, lower our expectations and accept it all with a grease smeared smile.

2011-12-13T09:26:00.000-05:00

We are all equal in our awfulness. We are designed to want and need and want is the stronger of the two indeed. Entire philosophies are designed around the repelling of this fact, but there's no glory in denial.

I feel relieved.

Prelude

2011-12-12T15:09:00.000-05:00

I wasn’t always afraid, not like I am now. At least I don’t think I was.

Sometimes I wonder if my first memories are even real. They seem like dreams. It makes sense that they would, I mean it was a long time ago.

I’ve always wondered how people write memoirs, quoting and excerpting life, friends and family. It can’t be accurate, can it? Am I the only one who can’t remember all the little details? Who doubts the veracity of so many of the memories?

I don’t come from anywhere in particular. There’s nothing notable about how I was raised. Most days I think I was destined for greater things but on the in-between days I realize that I may very well be exactly where I’ll go. I hide my truths, all the time in fact, sometimes even from myself. Yet another thing I'm afraid of I guess.

There is one more thing. Most of the time, I feel like my brain is my enemy.

Ain't Never Gonna Be No Cake Fancifier

2011-12-12T11:29:00.000-05:00

Ugh, made some cookies yesterday, the decorating, so aggravating, I need some good decorating tools, not having the right tips leads to drips and runs and looks kind of butt. Taste good though. You can tell where I gave up on decorating with the small cookies. Actually to be honest, I gave up on the big ones part way through too.

I do not normally look forward to vacations that take place in winter under winter circumstances, but we are probably going to take the train to Montreal for a little getaway sometime in the next 2 months and THAT I can get into completely!!

Not Really a Fairy Tale

2011-12-12T09:20:00.000-05:00

I don't expect to change your life, or anyone's really, and it's sort of funny and a bit odd that we humans think of that as something to be done. But then again, it can happen, I mean someone else can change your life, but only in the superficial ways, you know, money, living arrangements, that kind of thing. Not real change, not the sort of change that causes you to re-evaluate your life, that has to come from somewhere else, doesn't it? That's what they say on TV anyway, and we all know that to be the gospel truth.

Once upon a time, not so long ago but it kind of feels like a million years, I had this friend, well no, I wouldn't even say really a friend because he was an idiot, although as an adult now I can see that that may not have been his fault, but anyway yeah, this friend, and this friend had this mother who was horrible, I mean seriously bad in a "your children shouldn't be living with you" way and again, we were too young to really know this was true but I can see it now, clearly.

Also in this house was a younger sister, a younger sister who had to live in this house with stuff everywhere and a mother who had the son buy drugs for her, and there was almost never any food in that house and this sister would just innocently be there, reading Katy Keene comics.

Sometimes I wonder how that girl turned out, if the Katy Keene got her through that crap.

On Holiday Parties

2011-12-09T11:29:00.000-05:00

Work party tonight, it's strange probably, but I don't really get excited about stuff like that. I don't know what's wrong with me, but mostly, I'm a bit of a homebody, I should work on that.

Normally people love that sort of thing, right? Free food and free drink and all that. But I don't really like drinking any more, I have come to super appreciate the non-hangover weekend and not ruining my whole day after a night partying. People always try to get you to drink, drink, drink with them, I don't get it really. I don't think I even got it when I was doing it. Escapism, for me anyway. Unhealthy escapism.

Then, once everyone is drunk, you pretty much can't relate to any of the conversations or activities any more. I know that I used to drink WAY too much, I've destroyed more weekends than I have used productively I think, and for what? So I will be practicing moderation again tonight and will definitely be happy for that when the morning comes.

It's nearly Christmas, how crazy. And no snow to speak of. I'm not one of those people who must have snow for Christmas, doesn't matter to me either way. I would like to work on getting decent snow photos this year though. It can be tough.

Trivial Matters

2011-12-08T11:57:00.000-05:00

First night of new season of trivia last night. We are in second place.

UFMs rock!

Thomas

2011-12-08T09:12:00.000-05:00

to the person who emailed me the following:

THOMAS is this YOU? Talk to me .‏

I can assure you that I am nowhere near being a Thomas, do not have the equipment to be a Thomas and have never heard of you in my life. I have however had relationships with two men named Thomas if that means anything.

OK, so that's that, then. That's me in the pictures, do I look like a Thomas?

Lifting

2011-12-07T11:36:00.000-05:00

So as you can see, the bathroom is in a bit of a state of chaos while I repair a few painting bloopers. We've got the new light up now, just need to fix an issue with the shower.

I need to do some repair on my butt. It's kind of flat and needs a real lift. Anyone got any good exercise suggestions that might accomplish this? I don't think the Yoga is quite intense enough and the treadmill won't do it alone.

It's trivia night. I need to stay away from the pub food. We have been eating out way too much lately and with all the Christmas related crap going on I've gained back probably 5 lbs. Sigh.

God....Just No

2011-12-07T10:21:00.002-05:00

And to this I can only say:

“joyriding in a rusted, battered and completely useless heap of nostalgia, forced to cling to the rear-view mirror that is my youth, I watch the memories shrink as they fade further into the past. Unable to see through the steamed up windshield of my future, I careen towards a screeching 3 decade pile-up of corroded emotional stagnancy.”

Sleep Memory

2011-12-06T10:25:00.000-05:00

oh man, this stinks, I woke up early this morning and had thought of something I really wanted to blog about, decided I'd remember and it was too early to bother and went back to sleep. Yeah, you know how this one ends.

Caught between Sin and Confession

2011-12-05T10:00:00.001-05:00

and I have to confess the title of this blog post has no relevance to anything in particular, how unfortunate.

Where is my inspiration? Is it normal for such ebb and tide of creativity? I feel barren right now. I won't panic because I've experienced this before and it always seems to come back; I suppose my worry is that this time it feels like it might last forevvvvver....

Looked at two more houses and two more strike outs. Patience, patience.

Photos! Actual Photos!

2011-12-02T16:23:00.000-05:00

Worked on a couple of my photos today. Feeling inspired, time to get outside and get some new subject matter. Two houses to look at tomorrow, a birthday party Sunday, SO MUCH to do but being busy is better than not, right?

Cell Phone Zombies

2011-12-01T09:32:00.000-05:00

Honestly, is there no sense of courtesy in this world anymore? I KNOW I sound like an old woman but I do NOT care.

1. Do NOT use your phone to freaking text people if you are out with ME. End of story. There is NO excuse, I do not care what you say. People survived for literally hundreds upon hundreds of years (that's right!) without a cell phone, so don't even play the emergency card, because you know and I know that's a bullshit excuse of the highest order. Fuck off already with your tweeting and your on the spot blogging and your "checking in" on bloody facebook and foursquare you rude, socially backwards bugger. Seriously, "social media" is actually creating a nation of real-life socially inept cell phone zombies.

OH and P.S., I don't care if your boss tells you to be available 24/7. No really, I don't! I don't even want to be friends with someone who would have a job where their boss would tell them to be available 24/7, you self-important bore-ass twat. The very idea that you would accept this situation says a lot about you and none of it do I care to hear. Blah, blah, blah. There, I said it.

2. Do NOT have a goddamned speaker phone conversation near me. This goes for at work too. Where I sit in a cubicle. Why do I have to hear your conversation? Get your damn ears checked. It's called a hearing aid. Get one if you need one.

3. Don't check your phone at the movies. Should I even need to say this? Don't kick my seat, don't talk. If you aren't grown up enough to watch movies in public with other people, wait until they come out on DVD or download them at home.

On a lighter note, it's Meyer lemon time, check them out, so delicious!!

2011-11-30T15:05:00.001-05:00

I am more adventurous than my life has been.

AbFab Christmas Present

2011-11-28T12:17:00.001-05:00

House Hunting

2011-11-28T10:05:00.000-05:00

so the house was not quite right. Sitting right up against a busy road it was noisy even though it was in the country, as it was a fairly high traffic country road. I'm trying to escape that, so that's a deal-breaker right there.

I'm feeling under the weather, gonna keep this one short.

Country Roads

2011-11-25T10:54:00.000-05:00

I feel as though I've been a bit scattered here this week, going to regroup over the weekend and get back on track OK?

Also, going to look at a house tomorrow morning. This is it here:

It looks much nicer in the summer! 4 bedrooms (I could have a photography/art project room!!) 3 stall barn, 2 paddocks...and room for the chickens and ducks I NEED to have! Fingers crossed that it's PERFECT and that things can go my way, I feel like I should live there but hey, who knows. If not, well, I'll keep on working towards that goal as I know the perfect place is out there somewhere!

Greetings Earthlings

2011-11-23T09:12:00.001-05:00

I just can't stay on track. Was supposed to take photos of dresses for your opinion and ended up doing this instead followed by some yoga and then did the dishes. Sigh.

I'm pretty sure I've seen someone who basically looks like this normally. In-bred. Urgh.

Shimmy

2011-11-22T14:16:00.002-05:00

Have you guys ever seen this Shimmy show?

It's pretty mesmerizing and makes me want to learn how to bellydance.

Raisins and Rolling Eyes

2011-11-22T10:34:00.000-05:00

sometimes you just have to have breakfast food for dinner, right? In this case, cinnamon raisin bread french toast for me, thanks.

Why am I so tired today? It's grey and dreary and kind of cold and I didn't sleep well, I guess that's the answer.

I've really got to work on not making this face when I am invited to yet ANOTHER meeting that veers off topic and eats up my productive time. Meetings, there really is such a thing as too many. Another one this afternoon that I am dying to get out of as I KNOW it will maybe address something that I deal with for all of 2 minutes.

I have a dress decision to make for this weekend. I think this evening I'll take some photos and get some input from you guys, OK?

Kinderkreis

2011-11-22T10:10:00.003-05:00

I would probably watch this show every day.

This interpretation is even better still!

The Big Bang

2011-11-21T20:16:00.000-05:00

There's something about this that seems so 80's to me, the idea that Russia is still the top country as far as nuclear weapons storage. But then again, it's quite possible that everyone else BUT me already knows this and I've just not been paying attention. I expected that North Korea would be much higher up on the list to be honest with you. Big shocker, Canada doesn't even appear. That's a good thing though.

It reminds me of when I was in, oh, grade 8 maybe? Anyway, they broadcast this TV movie called The Day After about the aftermath of a nuclear attack. It was pretty grim stuff and I remember feeling pretty uncomfortable with the state of the world. The buildup to this broadcast was pretty intense as I recall too.

Anyway, this is pretty fascinating and also, a little scary.

Via: Mozy

Hi Monday

2011-11-21T09:15:00.001-05:00

As my life is currently consumed with such grown up things as preparing my condo for sale and getting new snow tires I sadly have little to share with you of interest. I am still struggling to fit into this new goody good hair cut that SO doesn't suit me, my personality or my wardrobe AT ALL, regrets, I've had a few but then again, it's only hair and will grow although these days it seems to grow much more slowly than it used to.

I also might be getting sick of the blonde. I expected that would happen, so we'll see.

Ask Me a Question

2011-11-17T11:45:00.000-05:00

Last night we went out for some nibblies (had some of the best fries ever, special treat!) and ended up staying for pub trivia. I had NO idea people took this stuff so seriously. Did really well on the music trivia part but not so great on others. Was actually fun which surprised me; I like trivia but didn't think I'd like it in that setting. On the downside, I got a pretty ferocious headache from drinking beer and maybe from eating poorly. Oh well you gotta do it sometimes I guess.

This story might be better with pictures but I was too busy participating.

Jesus

2011-11-16T16:53:00.000-05:00

Can you believe this was still in my condo? It's just been sitting and sitting and sitting unusable forever.

Sigh.

Hi and Bye, Quick Check-In

2011-11-15T09:56:00.000-05:00

just busy you know, painting, moving stuff out and around and packing up old clothes (my god I have too many items of clothing) doing the "if you haven't worn it or looked for it in the past few months it's gone" routine, being strict about that, this is important, also packing up items that are too large, get them out of the house, further inspiration to stay at the new weight and maybe even go further still.

I both like and hate painting, walls I mean, it's a bit relaxing and soothing really until you get to a wonky bit like around pipes in the laundry room then it sort of sucks a lot and I get impatient and do a fairly bad job because it will be hidden by things anyway. Bad attitude I guess. I just want to go and I want to go NOW!

I should take photos of all my hard work, yeah exciting, that's what I'll do tonight, after I do Yoga and maybe watch an episode of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (terrible, how'd I get sucked into that one?) I know, but it has Kim Richards on it and if you are as old as me you know who that is and that gives you a reason to watch that train wreck. Hypocritical of me I guess, watching the type of show that I think is slowly rotting away our brains.

People like my pumpkin Chocolate chip cookies here at work. I like them too, which is why I brought them to work, don't want to have a cookie pig out!

Bad Food

2011-11-10T15:39:00.000-05:00

After having eaten an absolutely terrible lunch consisting of over-cooked, excessively salty pizza (and being stupid enough to consume 3 pieces like a dog who's gotten into the garbage, even though I could tell it was bad), I've come to the conclusion that there is a. no excuse for bad food and b. free doesn't mean you should eat it anyway.

My reward for partaking of the free work pizza is a massive bellyache and the urge to purge. It's not being ungrateful if it made me sick, right?

Lesson learned, I'll stick to my own lunches from now on.

This is a re-enactment of "on the verge of puking". The distress however is genuine. The puking part may became a reality. Time will tell.

Xanadu

2011-11-10T10:19:00.002-05:00

I'd forgotten how completely ridiculous this is.

I feel a little barfy looking at the tight-rope guy's skinny legs when he does the splits.

Ugh.

A Story

2011-11-10T08:59:00.002-05:00

Did you ever spy on kids going to Salvation Army summer bible camp and throw peach pits in at them out of boredom? I did. And that's how I ended up going to Salvation Army summer bible camp. Crime doesn't pay.

New Store

2011-11-09T11:38:00.000-05:00

OK my new store is up and running, you can check it out right here!

Shopping Time

2011-11-09T09:37:00.000-05:00

Wow, been busy, work, yoga and setting up my online store. This store will be run by me and I will be shipping directly. I'll keep my other stores but I wanted a little more control over all the aspects of production. It will be cheaper to buy direct from me too.

So that's what I'm doing, will be posting a link later. How's your week going?

Sunday, Sunday

2011-11-07T12:04:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I cleaned the house while listening to an American Top 40 countdown from 1977. It seems to me that I MUCH prefer the so-called "Top 40" from that time period. I wouldn't listen to that show now if you paid me. Who hosts it these days, that idiot Ryan Seacrest?

Anyway, it made me feel a bit nostalgic (not that that is unusual for me) as I remembered a lot of the songs they were playing from my parent's car.

I finished off my evening by watching some Little House on the Prairie. God, some days you really just need to be reminded that once upon a time this was a world that didn't reward Snookies and pregnant teenagers and rude obnoxious house-mates and dip-shit families with money and celebrity.

Pink Tights and a Wiggle

2011-11-04T09:47:00.001-04:00

Sometimes I Just Don't Understand

2011-11-04T09:34:00.001-04:00

The Chopping Block

2011-11-04T09:04:00.002-04:00

so what I did is let them cut off all the dried up terribly damaged hair I had. That's left me with pretty short hair, shortest I've had in a loooong time.

It's not particularly my style, I kind of feel like a soccer mom.

though I can assure you I'm not.

Even my bangs had to be cut, they were also made of hay, horses would follow me everywhere, I swear. I don't like the bangs anymore. I'm going to have to cave and figure it out though, I can't wear an ugly bobby pin every day. Well actually I can.

Oh well, I guess I fit in at the office a little better now. Not that that's a goal or anything. At least I might have long healthy hair for next summer!

Shopping Through the Post Office?

2011-11-04T08:47:00.001-04:00

How strange, so I was looking around online at stuff, actually looking at laptops as a possible Christmas gift for a family member (they don't read this blog) and I had NO idea you could purchase things through the Post Office here in Canada. Even computers from Dell.ca Do they do that in the U.S. too?

Country Time

2011-11-03T13:47:00.000-04:00

O.K. so maybe I do have one more thing to say. We are now officially getting the condo ready for sale. Yep, things are in motion for reals this time. We have rented storage space and already moved quite a bit into it. Have a few repairs to do around the place and some painting. Then, we'll see if we can get a buyer. Next summer I want to be posting photos of our ducks and chickens and our big garden and whatever other country goodies we can find.

Snip Snip

2011-11-03T09:38:00.002-04:00

Dudes, I have nothing to report other than I am getting my hair cut later today which will either go really well or really badly. We'll see.

Stupid Women

2011-11-02T09:46:00.003-04:00

I posted this a few years back but figured it was relevant given all the stupid "sexy" costumes that get hauled out every year at Halloween.

I have to say that I think women are their own worst enemy. A large number of women do one thing and then turn around and say another. Here is a prime example.

A college here in Ontario held a pub night. They made a brilliant decision to hold a "Playboy" theme night. Naturally, many of the girls dressed up full tilt bunny. Now I personally question the brains of the administration who thought a sexually suggestive pub night (which of course involves excess drinking, 19 year olds with poor judgement and girls who are nearly naked) was a stroke of genius, and so did a journalism student at the school. She asked some of the girl's if she could photograph them, disclosing that she was a reporter for the school paper. Said girls posed as seen above. The photos were printed with their faces pixelated. Here's where it gets assinine. Apparently it is now a big controversy, with the higher ups censoring the photos completely, and not allowing the photos to accompany the school's webcast news report. One of the girls in the photo said: "It just was not appropriate," worrying about the impact the pictures would have on her reputation. In the context of the night, at a student pub with other women competing for the title of best-dressed bunny, she said her outfit was appropriate.

"People should be more mature and realize it's a theme night." The 19-year-old was mortified when the "unflattering" photos showed on campus. She was also worried that her costume was distinctive enough to make her identifiable (ummm... duh, that was the idea, no?)

And there's the rub. The girl felt the photos were "unflattering". Come on, honey. Let's talk about who needs to be mature here. If you are going to go in public with your ass hanging out, fine. I'm all for freedom of expression. But if you are going to turn around and worry about your reputation after the fact, and have a problem with it because you didn't like the photo you posed for willingly, you are a dumb twit. I am willing to bet there are far worse photos of you on dozens of camera phones RIGHT NOW from the very same night.

And that is my problem with women. Follow through on what you do. If you don't care about your "reputation" when you are drunk at a pub and have your ass hanging out, don't care about it after the fact. If you do care about it after the fact, maybe you should question your drinking. Please don't perpetrate the idea that women are idiots who want to do one thing and expect another. It's irritating, mindless and makes you look like a bigger fool than you did in your bunny costume. Either own your sexuality, or realize you are not mature enough to try to yet.

And that's my rant for today.

Monday, Monday

2011-10-31T13:01:00.000-04:00

my building is constantly surrounded by dodgy people these days and I really think I need to move before the value drops. Seriously, there is crazy everywhere and although that might lend a certain ambience to a neighbourhood that some "hipster" types appreciate, I am not interested.

These two were having quite the incoherent chat session.

Damp as a Cellar Down There...

2011-10-28T16:04:00.000-04:00

I think I might be in the mood for some Strangers With Candy and red wine tonight.

70's Fur

2011-10-28T09:09:00.000-04:00

oh man, something of a moral dilemma I suppose. You see, last night I bought a winter coat. In fact, I bought this one:

which happens to be Mongolian sheep and which I got for an amazing price. What I didn't realize is that this counts as a FUR coat. I had NO idea that they didn't just shave them down to make this. I mean, it's a type of wool, right? But no, Darrick has informed me that indeed that coat is made of dead sheep.

Now on the one hand, this coat is nearly as old I am. I would never buy any fur that supported the industry. At the same time, this is vintage and I am RE-USING it, thereby not contributing to shit in landfills (in fact in reality, I could deliver a whole speech on just how bad things like pleather are).

Anyway, ultimately the coat is bought and the coat will be worn. And nobody better try to give me a hard time about it.

Snack Time

2011-10-27T10:36:00.000-04:00

Made more Kale chips last night, I swear this is my new favourite snack food! It probably doesn't look very appetizing but I swear those are crispy and delicious. This time I seasoned them with Spicy Herbamare and Nutritional Yeast. That sounds sort of nasty doesn't it. Completely the opposite.

Nutritional yeast has a cheese flavour (think Smartfood popcorn) and is super good for you. It has more protein than meat and is full of B vitamins. It is excellent sprinkled on things like popcorn, pizza, salad....lots of things really.

Went out for supper last night, Ethiopian, tried a new dish, Shiro Wat, so good, a new favourite described on the menu as: "Highly-seasoned chick peas in berbere sauce garlic (spicy)". Yes, it WAS tasty, spicy, saucy and delicious! Maybe I'll try to make it myself!

Well This Is....

2011-10-26T10:17:00.002-04:00

something. I don't know what exactly, but something.

Hello, Is There Anybody Out There?

2011-10-26T10:10:00.002-04:00

Strangely, I can't see my site today, but I do think you still can. Not too sure what the problem is, but investigating. Optimistically, I'm posting.

Today I am wearing a pair of pants that I have never worn since I bought them. ~~Foolishly~~ Motivationally I bought them to encourage me to lose weight and they sat in my closet for nearly a year. Did you know I had worked myself up to a size 10? So these are an 8. And they fit without being tight. Lesson being: buying clothes that are too small won't make you lose weight. But having them around when you finally get your act together is kinda nice.

I've never been smaller than a size 6 as an adult and usually once I reach that size people tell me I look too thin. I don't know if it's true but being too thin at a certain age is not attractive so I don't think that's my goal.

Actually, I don't have a specific size goal. I don't think at size 10 I look particularly overweight, but at the same time, I was deeply out of shape. I still am to be honest, but I'm not nearly so far down the hole. I can go through a whole hour of yoga without stopping now, when I started (which was only about a month ago) I couldn't get through it all.

There's really no magic to it though is there. Eat better, move your body = health and weight loss. I've basically stopped drinking other than the odd glass of wine here and there and I quit smoking at the beginning of the year. Cutting out nearly all meat has been beneficial in multiple ways, primarily with my digestion.

I never knew I could enjoy Yoga as much as I do. I mean, I am really into it! And being into that is making the treadmill more tolerable. Now I just need to find some really effective Pilates moves.

OH, those Nordic leggings I bought? They fit size wise but I'm about 4 inches too tall for them I'd say. I will only be able to wear them with higher boots. The perils of purchasing from Asia.

Karma, Bad Character and Adzuki Beans

2011-10-25T14:53:00.006-04:00

I must be on some kind of karmic winning streak, in the past couple of days I have won a yoga top and 2 concert tickets and been invited to guest blog by The Art Gallery of Ontario. Who knows what might happen next?

Reflecting on this is enough to get me out of my funk, sometimes my brain is my own worst enemy and just when I think I'm the boss, I'm not. But I'm slowly taking the power.

In a few hours I will do my yoga and then probably some laundry and relax a little, maybe an aromatherapy steam. The antithesis of gym, tan, laundry really, god, have you ever seen that show, those people are utterly vile, any attempt to emulate that is just...beyond my capability to understand.

I am becoming both more open minded and tolerant and at the same time less patient with selfish, vain, negative behaviour. That doesn't really make sense does it? Some people use negativity to get attention for themselves I guess. I find it just...ick.

I read a really off-putting comment today by a blogger I used to follow daily that made me think for the first time "are you fucking serious, why do you want to be this unpleasant person?" I almost feel bad for this reaction but there is a point where even people you liked/enjoyed (in real life and/or online) can really just leave a bad taste in your mouth with their lack of humility, genuineness and foundation in freaking reality and your first instinct is to bail. I suppose in a sense that's judgemental but hey, I think you are allowed to be judgemental about what you consume/who you spend your time with etc. Anyway, I think this person probably does know exactly how they are coming off and I find that choice especially...distasteful and well...incomprehensible? I DON'T think all attention including negative is good actually and I don't understand creating negativity in order to generate some sort of, god I don't know, buzz?

Obviously we all have our insecurities and our own need to be something and be acknowledged but letting that expose itself through a lack of humility and being...well honestly, unlikeable...it's disappointing. And as much as I don't care what people think about me, I wouldn't want people to think I was a self-aggrandizing, unpleasant, boastful and disdainful fool. I guess I'm puzzled as to how that would be appealing to anyone? UGH, so many questions that really don't need answers!

Been eating a vegan loaf for the past two days. Darrick even tricked someone at work who believed it was a real meatloaf. Made with lots of things including Adzuki beans and potato. Topped with a mushroom gravy and caramelized onions, it really is delicious. Recipe comes from the Moosewood Restaurant.

For me, anything that is trying to be a meat substitute is usually disgusting. Tofurkey dogs, soy burgers, fake chicken...all that crap. The secret is to stop trying to replicate meat and just make a really good vegetable dish, you know?

2011-10-24T13:52:00.002-04:00

I've gotten it into my head that I need to watch Little House on the Prairie from the very beginning.

Word Vomit

2011-10-24T13:09:00.000-04:00

ugh mood crash. Sometimes it's a real struggle to be the sort of person who rolls with the punches (argh, awful cliché, I know) because let's face it, it probably takes a certain kind of mental disorder or dissociation (that's been my technique, not a good healthy one).

Anyway, some days I kind of feel like I have nobody to talk to or unload to and I think we probably all need that don't we, but I just don't have it. That's where this blog comes in I guess, because I don't really want to have a discussion with someone and have to go back and forth on things, I just need to get stuff out.

There are a lot of things I want to say, but I don't think I'll say them right now. Maybe I'm having a hormone fluctuation, I am getting old enough for that gross stuff I think.

A good treadmill session should get my brain straightened out somewhat and maybe pull a little of this dark cloud off me.

Did you ever notice that the people who say "I don't like drama" are often the people who drag it around with them? Not that I'm having any drama right this second, just an observation that makes me feel a bit irritated. Like, if you don't like drama then how about you get rid of the stupid scenarios in your life that make drama? Just a suggestion buds, simple plan.

Kale Chips and Cookies

2011-10-24T10:31:00.000-04:00

As it turns out I didn't get any photos taken this weekend. I did do some cooking though, made a vegan pizza, recipe found here. It was decently tasty but lacking a bit of spice oomph. I will definitely add my own spices to power it up next time (yes, it was good enough for there to be a next time!)

I also scored a couple of cookie molds for my shortbreads, they look like this.

yeah I know, old ladyish, I'm ok with that. I need some prettier ones now for my lavender shortbread. Something like this:

OH I also made Kale chips. I was super dubious about these turning out tasty but they were GREAT! I will definitely make these again and will come up with some seasoning variations. A much better choice than potato chips and completely satisfies the crunchy/crispy savoury craving. Do this:

Kale Chips

1. Tear up Kale leaves into smaller pieces (no stem), lay out on a baking tray.
2. Drizzle with olive oil (I use an olive oil mister which coats evenly AND lets you use less oil)
3. sprinkle with sea salt or any other sort of seasoning you like.
4. put in oven at 350° for about 10 minutes.
5. They are done when they are crispy.

Eat em! I'm not lying, these are really good!! And here's what you get out of it:

Low Calorie
No cholesterol
Low in sodium
No sugar
High in calcium
Very high in manganese
High in potassium
Very high in vitamin A
Very high in vitamin C

I'm going to make some more, maybe tonight.

In the world of things I could be writing about to be a better blogger, I had a pair of free tickets to The Balconies/Bedouin Soundclash on Friday night including band meet and greets. Yes we went. That's all.

Friday Rambles

2011-10-21T09:53:00.001-04:00

20 minutes of Yoga last night, was all I could manage, I was super tired and had done some running around after work. Tonight, treadmill and another short stretch session. Tomorrow, back to the hour-long Yoga session.

My Kombucha mother looks pretty ready to go now, I'll show you tomorrow, kinda disgusting looking! Anyway, time to brew a new batch of tea and actually get to drinking the stuff!! Being healthy is so much nicer than being a boozy, hungover, tired, rapidly aging, puffy disaster. I don't mean to sound judgemental, because of course I've spent my fair share wrecking my health. I would take it all back now that I know better; it's not a lesson you really want to learn yourself! It's too bad more people don't realize that!!

Looks like we'll be going to a Chagall exhibit soon, I know virtually nothing about this artist but the exhibit is called Chagall and the Russian Avant-Garde, sounds interesting enough.

Think I'll print up a couple of these this weekend.

OH, and I've decided to put a little nordic into my look this season, so bought these. Got an excellent deal, under $10!!